fire at high temperature

Unknown

Recently, when I would heat the egg up to 700 degrees to cook steaks, a huge fireblast would come out of the egg when I would attempt to open it to either put the steaks on, or flip them. I've tried slowly opening the top, but that doesn't work either. This did not use to happen -- I could heat it up to any temperature, open the top with no problem, and cook great steaks in 5 minutes. Now I'm afraid, as I've lost a few arm hairs with this problem! Can anyone help? thanks

Smoked Signals

RTL,
It's called a FLASHBACK. Check www.nakedwhiz.com He has a video about flashback and how to avoid it ...

Mainly comes from new lump and limited airflow. Try opening all the vents for a few seconds before opening the lid.[p]Doug
[ul][li]Naked Whiz[/ul]

Why1504

RTL,[p]Go get some welding gloves.

Unknown

Smoked Signals,
Thanks for the tip. I went to the web site and read about flashbacks. My only problem is that this happens to me when I've had the vents wide open (when I heat it up to 700+, I have the vents wide open to get it up to that temperature). NakedWhiz's solution about opening the top vent and slowly opening the top of the Egg hasn't worked for me, since the top vent has always been open anyway. Maybe I'm just not getting the proper air flow at the bottom of the grill.

Jethro

RTL,[p]The welding gloves mentioned above are a great idea. Also,
burp the Egg (open the lid slightly for a couple of seconds) 3 or 4 times before you really open the lid.[p]Keep em Smokin,
Jethro

Unknown

Jethro,
thanks to you and why1504 for the tips. With some of the backdrafts I've had, I may need a fireman's uniform! I'm gonna try some of these things this weekend, because I desperately need a great Egg steak!

Smoked Signals

RTL,
Longer tongs and welders gloves. My only experience with a flashback seared all the hair off my arm. Now I have 18" tongs and welders gloves up to the middle of my forearm. I have found that ribeyes produce the most flare up but I have not had flashback with everything wide open. I have been at over 1000F on my medium and not had a problem. Could be the lump. Are you pouring in the lump with all the dust or placing the lump in handfulls? I place my charcoal. Dust just invites danger in my opinion.[p]Doug

Unknown

Smoked Signals,
I'm pouring in right over the dust. Maybe that's my problem. If I get what you're saying, I should clear out the dust and place the coal so that there is proper air flow?[p]I have a large Egg. Seems like they may be more prone to backdrafts.

Why1504

RTL,[p]I believe BGE should include gloves with the egg. When I advise people on what to get with the egg gloves are on the top of my list. I always burp my egg. I also use cheap walmart ss tongs because they are very stiff and I can get ahold of what ever I am cooking. I always know when my fire is hot - I can feel the heat through my welding gloves, but it does not burn.

Smoked Signals

RTL,
Eggzactly!
Happy eggin ... gonna make steaks tonight!

Unknown

RTL, hmmmm.....I've never had a flashback at the temps you are at. I read the below posts and you reiterated that you already the vents WFO.[p]I'm not sure I understand what you are saying: have you been doing high temp cooks all along, and the flashbacks just started? Or have you just started doing high temp cooks, and this is happening?[p]I own 2 larges, have had several "surprises" - but at much lower temps.[p]Curious.[p]LVM

Unknown

LVM,
I was using it for about 6 months or so with no problem -- low temps or high temps. I still don't have a problem with low temps. Now, when I try to heat it up to 700+, I have the top and bottom vents wide open. A big (bluish) flame starts building up, sometimes shooting out of the top vent. I'm wondering if I'm not getting airflow in the bottom. I am reusing charcoal, so there's a lot of dust, etc. in there. I'm puzzled, because like you, most of these problems tend to happen to people at lower temps.